The Gardener

Once, there was a gardener who loved his plants very much. He planted beautiful plants and everyone admired his garden. The gardener himself however, was worried about a plant in the corner. This plant had bore a flower long back and never since then. The gardener took extra care of the plant although he could see no improvement.

Yet the gardener continued to take care of the plant. He watered it everyday. Ensured that there is enough sunlight for the plant and at the same time covered it enough to save it from the heat. The gardener would sit next to the plant and talk to it for hours. Tell it everything. Shared his bliss and sorrow with it. The plant had a special place in gardener's heart.

One day, to gardener's surprise, the plant bore a bud. This was a great moment for the gardener. He was so excited that he went out running in the fields and announced this to the bees and the beetles. He also went to the farm and whispered it to the cattle. Warned them from ever getting close to that plant.

The gardener watered the plant and watched it closely for hours. He wished he could see the bud grow into a flower. He would get up early and watch the plant. Talk to the bud. "You are special to me darling", he kept saying to the plant.

The bud slowly slowly grew into a flower. A beautiful flower. The flower was so beautiful that the gardener claimed that he had never seen such a flower before. He sat besides the plant and admired the flower like a child.

The next day, the gardener had a visitor. Visitor insisted he wanted to see the garden.The gardener took the visitor to show the garden. The visitor while closely observing other plants, saw the plant in the corner. He, alike the gardener, had never seen such a beautiful flower. He asked gardener if he can pluck the flower. The gardener became furious,"not until I am alive".

The visitor smiled and turned his back towards the plant. But the visitor had evil intentions in his mind. He waited for the gardener to leave the garden. "Can I have some water?", the visitor asked. "Yes, of course", said the gardener. As the gardener went to bring the water, the visitor crookedly pluck the flower. By the time gardener came back, the harm was already done. The flower was plucked and it lied in the stranger's hand.

On seeing this, gardener cried out load,"No, you were not supposed to do that". "Why not?", asked the visitor. With a heavy heart, gardener replied, "it was special, I had sweated out for this particular plant to bear the flower." The gardener moved towards the visitor with a vengeance, "you scoundrel, you must be punished for this is a big crime for me". "give that back to me", the gardener tried to get the flower back.

There began a scuffle to have the flower. Both of them forgot that the thing they fought for was delicate. One pulled while the other pushed. Suddenly, the gardener saw the flower loose a petal. He was taken aback. The thing that he had cherished for so long was being played with ruthlessly.

Soon the gardener realized that the only harm caused in this fight was to his beloved flower. A tear dropped from his eyes as he saw another petal fall. His world, the flower, was getting destroyed right in front of his eyes. The gardener said to himself, it is better to let go the person before its too late. "I hope, you remain just fine", he cried while looking at the flower in the visitors hand.

The gardener was not able to cope up with the loss. He kept crying for hours. He pleaded to the god for the flowers safety. But the flower had gone. The gardener, soon uprooted the plant in the corner and sweared not to ever plant a tree again.

The Picnic

"Dad we are going to be late", worried Yash shouted while Ajay took shower.  "You have been in there for half an hour now, its my picnic not yours", the ten year old said furiously. Understanding Yash's impatience for the first ever School picnic of his Ajay assured him," we still got two hours baby, and I just came into shower. Give me 5 minutes". "You taking me to essel world if they leave me and go", said Yash.

The kid had gotten up at 4 in the morning and had been in a hurry since. Ajay was enjoying his son's haste and was deliberately being a tortoise. He took 15 minutes to brush his teeth while he watched the highlights of a cricket match! Poor Yash could see all this and can only be pleading. Evil father, isn't he? But Ajay knew he still had a lot of time left. The departure was scheduled for 9:00 am.

It was 8:00 am and Raj had already reached the school with his dad. On seeing the empty playground of school, Raj asked Dinesh, "Dad, have they left us?". To this, Dinesh burst into laughter, " how could they? They just can't even if we were late. And we have in fact come an hour before the scheduled time." "Ohh!! No wonder no one has turned up yet", Raj had a big smile on his face while he looked at his father.

Ajay had to surrender to Yash's haste and they reached school premise at around 8.15 am. "Look, nobody has come yet except that guy there", Ajay said while pointing towards Raj. "Do you know him?", Ajay asked Yash. " No Dad, he is from another division", said Yash. Yet both shared a smile.

It was 8.45 am already and quiet a few picnic hungry kids had gathered by now with their parents. The teachers made them form queues depending on their grades. Parents formed a queue of their own, while they admired the discipline of their little ones. Every parent had a smiley face and worried eyes. For most of them, their kid had never been out without them for a whole day. But then these little sacrifices to give your child a taste of this diverse world are worth it.

"Yash, did you bring the binoculars?",asked excited Ajay. " Dad, I am going to essel world and won't need it there", said little Yash while he gave his father an odd look. "Let's board the buses, come in queues, let's have fun children", ever excited drawing teacher yelled while standing at the bus's door. And the queue rolled slowly into the busses.

"Don't push your hand out of the window", said Priya's mother. Ayush's mother couldn't stop being a mother," bacchu be with your teachers and do not wander alone, I don't want a single complaint of yours this time". "OK mom", said a seasoned campaigner Ayush, with a smirk. Ajay also was worried a bit but didn't show it on his face. He didn't want his child's enthusiasm about the picnic to dip even a millimetre. After all, these are the things that separate a child from an adult. "Be a nice guy and enjoy your picnic Yash", Ajay took a note out of others and started to act like a parent. He continued, "and have fun, don't be scared of rides but be careful". " Yes Dad", Yash replied.

Ajay, walked up to the driver's cabin. "Hey mate! Drive safe and take care of our children", he said calling the driver. "Yes Sir, don't you worry", said the driver. Ajay noticed a kid in the cabin and surprised, he asked ,"is he supposed to be there? he might bother you". To this, the driver gave a big smile, "No he won't bother me Sir". He relieved Ajay saying, "He is Raj, my son. He also studies in this school and is coming for the picnic". "I will take care of him and your child too, don't worry". Now Ajay was at peace as Dinesh gave him his cell number. "Call me when you feel like talking to your son", said Dinesh.

"Its already 9.31 am and we are late, time to leave", ordered the head master. Everyone waved hands to their kids. Ajay had an extra gesture on offer for Dinesh. Dinesh accepted it with glee. The busses passed the curve and were out of sight. The day full of adventures for the little ones had started. Also had started a day long wait of their children for every parent. Ajay however, was slightly more relaxed than others thanks to Dinesh. The Picnic had begun.

Empty words

It was business to me as usual but for others it was Holi. Not surprised I got into this empty local train. I mean, it was empty enough (only) to let me stand without getting squeezed.  I soon realized that it was one of those bogeys which is partitioned into two compartments. This particularly was the one which is shared with the Handicaps' compartment and the partition was basic see through grill. So, I could easily see the people on that side from where I stood.

The handicaps' compartment, ohh sorry!!! Who am I to call it Handicap's compartment?? The compartment for differently abled was also fairly crowded. Most of them were wearing a yellow jersey which had a name of some NGO.  Clearly they belonged to that NGO and were taken out to enjoy the festival of colors. On their way to somewhere, knowing the agenda, everyone of them seemed to be pretty excited and enthusiastic. I could actually read that in their glittery eyes. Yes, only their eyes knew the language as they were Deaf and Mute (Dumb in Indian context is a harsh word to describe the disability).

There excitement though showed no sign of disability. They had forgotten that they lack the two most important senses needed to express things. But, they certainly tuned their eyes and fingers to the potential. I kept on looking at them and slowly started picking up few things. I guess the two of them were discussing about something that happened earlier in the day. One of them had got scolded and the rest enjoyed it, I could easily make out that the episode was funny as the narrator ended up giving out a big smile at the end of his narration.

Other group of 4 - 5 was busy planning about the Holi celebrations they were up to.  One amongst them probably had experienced the joy before. So he was making balloons of his hands and throwing them at the others. Others would imagine the balloon and duck and then all would burst out into that silent laughter.

There was one girl who was distributing the gulal pouch to others. She looked at me twice or thrice and realized that I was admiring what was going on on her side.  Then she just let me admire and continued with her distribution work. Before turning back though, she smiled a bit to herself as if to tell me that I am stuck at the wrong end.

Then for a while I turned back towards my side of 'aal iz well' people. Damn!!!! I was actually stuck at the wrong end. The only things that were talking on this side were the tracks and the wind. Everyone, with all of his senses sound and fine, was busy in himself. Few dug into their smartphones and others into their dailys. Hardly I saw anyone having a man to man conversation. This, left me boggled and in that awe I once again turned my attention towards the other side.

That girl was again looking at me, telling me, that this world cares too less of what they have. Now the smile on her face began to bargain feelings on my face too. This made me admire them even more. I was, just a little, able to read the empty words of those specially abled friends. I so badly wished to be on the other side. But unfortunately, I was inadequately abled.